Saturday 2nd November 2024
Venue: M.A. Hart Stadium
Attendance: 146
Two brilliantly created goals from Callum McHale and Brad Snelling saw New Milton Town defeat Hamworthy United 2-0 at the newly named M.A. Hart Stadium this afternoon as manager Matt Maybury returned to the dugout after two weeks away.
The home side were the first to create a chance. Brad Snelling's looping header looked destined to drop into the net, but for Jeremy James, who somehow managed to back pedal and palm the ball away. It wouldn't be the first expert save made from the visiting goalkeeper during the game.
Bailey Rowe then sneaked through a parting New Milton Town defence, but his shot one-on-one with Ollie Bull was saved with his feet—two big chances after only 8 minutes of play.
Jack Broad would go down with a suspected knee injury in the 17th minute, and by the 36th minute, he had to be withdrawn, with Ollie Mayo coming on in his place. New Milton had made a substitution just minutes earlier, with Barney Stone replacing MacMonagle.
Before the substitutions, though, New Milton had taken the lead. Billy Maybury's cross-field ball was spectacularly well-weighted as it flew over Ben Marsh's head to Callum McHale, who brought the ball down superbly before finishing calmly with his right foot.
The half ended with two big chances for the home side, with Barney Stone's powerful effort across the goalkeeper being saved and Callum McHale clipping the outside of the post. Matt Maybury's team deserved the lead at the break.
It was a slow start to the second half until the game burst into life once more in the 52nd minute. Ollie Bull made an exceptional save one-on-one, blocking the ball after making himself big—Peter Schmeichel-esque—and on the breakaway, the lead for New Milton was doubled in devastating fashion.
Barney Stone ran down the right wing before crossing in low. Noel McCarthy-Gardiner's first-time back-heeled flick fell into the path of Brad Snelling, who controlled well before caressing the ball into the corner of the net. It was his first goal for the club since the 7th of September in a 4-0 home win against Alresford Town.
Snelling could have struck more if not for the brilliant Jeremy James in the Hamworthy United goal, whilst Barney Stone also went close as he looked to extend his lead at the top of the Wessex League scoring charts. The away side struggled to create chances against New Milton's well-drilled defence, and the game ended shortly after midweek signing Ben Beard came on for his debut.
The whole team can be proud of how they played this afternoon, with colossal performances from each and every one of them. Matchday sponsors Reg Against The Machine handed Billy Maybury the Man of the Match award after the game, while Callum McHale was awarded the club's October Player of the Month gong.
New Milton remains top of the Wessex League Division One and travels to Westleigh Park—home of Havant & Waterlooville—to take on Clanfield next Saturday at 3 p.m.
New Milton Town: Ollie Bull, Jack Kinge-Phillips, Cameron Smith, Billy Maybury, Louis Moore, Toby Colmer, Jack Broad, Cameron MacMonagle, Noel McCarthy-Gardiner, Callum McHale, Brad Snelling
Substitutes Used: Barney Stone, Ollie Ollie Mayo, Heath Thornton, Ben Beard
Goals: McHale 23, Snelling 56
Comments